An investigation is underway after a suspicious package of white powder forced the evacuation of the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.

The building on the Shelbourne Road in Dublin 4  was cordoned off after the powder was discovered in a package that had been posted in on Thursday March 14th.

The Irish Times reports that the package was sent in alongside a death threat against the Israeli Ambassador.

The army bomb squad was called in; however, Gardaí say the package was later deemed “safe and a hoax”.

It is understood it was eventually found to be sugar.

Threat

In a statement, the Israeli Embassy said it “will not be silenced or intimidated”.

“Threats of violence  and intimidation need to be called out,” it said.

“We cannot and will not be silenced or intimidated and must continue our work defending Israel which is fighting an immediate threat by a genocidal terror organisation

“The incident shows that much of the opposition to Israel stems from extremism and hatred, and is not about the welfare of the Palestinians.”

Gaza assault

It comes as Action Aid Ireland warns that the people of Gaza are on the brink of famine – with children now “facing starvation and malnutrition at rates that are completely unprecedented”.

The charity said 27 children have died from acute malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks and warned that there has been a rise in mothers losing their babies very late in their pregnancies as a result of malnutrition.

Nearly 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7th and nearly 75,000 people have been injured.

At least 1,400 Israelis have been killed since the Hamas attack.

The Garda investigation into the suspicious package in Dublin, led by the Special Detective Unit, is ongoing.

Additional reporting by Emma Tyrrell.